The four-story building at 4417 N. Kilpatrick Ave., near the Union Pacific railroad tracks and a Jewel grocery store, drew fire from nearby homeowners who said it was too big for their neighborhood of about 90 single-family homes.

Others objected to the $22 million project, saying it would clog the streets with traffic and take up all of the parking spaces.

Still others said they were concerned the large building would flood their homes with stormwaterbecause less rain would be absorbed into the ground. Some complained about overwhelming the area’s electricity grid.

But the Chicago Plan Commission changed the zoning on Dec. 20 to allow for the proposed apartment building to be built on land once set for 12 single-family homes.

The project has the support of Ald. John Arena (45th), who said it would help seniors who live in Portage Park and Jefferson Park grow old near their friends and neighbors, and fill a growing demand for senior housing.

Ninety percent of the units will be set aside for seniors making no more than $32,000, said Nancy Kapp, president of The Renaissance Companies, which is developing the project.

The project, which also will include 34 parking spaces as required by city code, is being financed in part by dollar-for-dollar federal tax credits designed to finance affordable housing.

Construction is expected to begin next fall and take about 18 months to complete, Kapp said.